Part
23
"In
The Fullness of Times"
As we've already
discussed, the Kingdom Reign of
Christ, called the Millennium, immediately follows the
7-year Tribulation period. The
Millennial
Kingdom
will commence with a clear indication of our Lord's reign as "King
of kings," having His rod of authority. He will purge out
those who rebelled and opposed Him, those refusing to believe the preaching
of the 144,000 and the "two
witnesses" in the face of the terrible Tribulation
judgments.
In a 75 day lapse
between the Battle of Armageddon ending the Tribulation and Christ's
Millennial reign (see Part 22), Christ will separate the wheat
believers of
Israel
from the unbelieving
tares, imposters, who will be "burned"
(Matt 13:30). He will also separate
the sheep believers from the unbelievers of the Gentiles from
the unbelieving goats of the Gentiles
("nations in KJV means "Gentiles"); they will go
to "everlasting fire."
All believers will enter "the
kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world." Man is
always a failure apart from regeneration and union with the Lord and His
indwelling "Spirit of life"
given freely to ALL believers. Thus, no unbelievers
will survive the Tribulation or the Millennium (Rev 20:9) to enter the
eternal kingdom on the New
Earth.
Some things
revealed to John (below) are more foretelling of the dire time to come just
before the glorious "
Kingdom
of
God
" on earth that is ushered in. Some elements of the eternal kingdom are seen by these verses below. First note
that "time" will be
no more (v1) in "the eternal."
"1And
I (John) saw another mighty
angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud: and a
rainbow was upon his head,
and his face was as it were the sun, and his feet as pillars of fire: 2
And he had in his hand a
LITTLE BOOK OPEN:
5 And
the angel which I saw stand
upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven, 6
And sware by him that
liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein
are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea,
and the things which are therein, that THERE SHOULD BE TIME NO LONGER:
7 But
in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he shall begin to sound,
THE MYSTERY (musterion,
secret plan) OF GOD SHOULD BE FINISHED, as he hath
declared to his servants the prophets. 8
And the voice which I
(John) heard from heaven spake unto me (John) again,
and said, Go and take the little book
9 And
I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give
me the LITTLE BOOK. And he said unto me, TAKE IT,
AND EAT IT UP; AND IT SHALL MAKE THY BELLY BITTER, BUT IT SHALL BE IN
THY MOUTH SWEET AS HONEY.
10 And
I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it
up; and it was in my mouth sweet as honey: and as soon as I had eaten
it, my belly was bitter. 11
And he said unto me, THOU MUST PROPHESY AGAIN BEFORE MANY PEOPLES, AND NATIONS, AND TONGUES,
AND KINGS." (Revelation
10:1-2, 5-11)
The "little
book" (v) given
by the angel to John, the writer of the Book of Revelation, contains the "bitter"
of eternal judgment for the unbelieving, and also the
"sweet"
of eternal blessing upon the believers
(v9). John was given to write of the both the bitter
and the sweet as we come to
the close of all ages. The "sweet"
of faith in Christ's cross is
the only way of salvation for men of all the ages.
In Revelation "the
Lamb slain" occupies the center of the glory of the
universe. No believer from any age will ever boast of his own righteousness "in
that day." All, both saved and unsaved, will ultimately
acknowledge their unworthiness; the believers will proclaim Him who
died that they might live and be justified before God.
The
"mighty
angel" (Rev 10:1)
holds a "little
Book open" (v2),
indicating that the information contained therein is from God and that the
Apostle John was given access to the book. "Surely
the LORD GOD will do nothing, but (except) He
revealeth His secret unto His servants the prophets" (Amos
3:7). Both
the "sea, and...
earth"
(10:2) are
under his feet, indicating that the angel has been given dominion over the
entire Earth. The same idea of dominion is portrayed by Psalm 110.
"The LORD (the Father)
said unto my LORD (Jesus), Sit
Thou at My right hand, until
I make Thine enemies (brought low as)
Thy footstool" (Psalm
110:1).
The "bitter"
of the prophesy contained in the Book of Revelation that John records will
be evident by its many judgments. Our Lord will put the rebellion down and "break"
the nations (Gentiles) "with
a rod of iron" and "dash
them in pieces like a potter's vessel" (Psa
2:9). Christ will
have to "rule
them with a rod of iron"
(Rev 2:27) since there will still be a large number of unsaved
unregenerate men born on earth to the end the Millennium. Then "Satan
shall be loosed
out of his prison" to stir up rebellion amongst them and
against the Lord's
Israel
again. It's not strange that we read of Gog
and Magog once
again in the FINAL rebellion on
earth.
"And
when the thousand years are expired,
Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, And shall go out to
deceive the nations
gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the
sea. And they went up
on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city (
Jerusalem
): and FIRE CAME DOWN FROM GOD OUT OF
HEAVEN, AND DEVOURED THEM." (Rev 20:7-9)
This final
rebellion is followed by "the
Devil" being "Cast
Into THE
LAKE
OF
FIRE
."
"And
THE DEVIL that
deceived them WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF
FIRE and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are,
and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever."
(Revelation 20:10)
ALL
THE DEAD LOST, as UNBELIEVERS, will
be resurrected from the dead to
stand before the Great White
Throne in Judgment (v12 below). They will be judged out of
the "books," and if
their name is not found in the "book
of life" they too are "Cast
Into The
Lake
Of
Fire
."
"10And
THE DEVIL THAT DECEIVED THEM
WAS CAST INTO THE LAKE OF FIRE and brimstone, where the beast
and the false prophet are
(already), and shall be
tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11
And (afterward) I saw a GREAT
WHITE THRONE, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth
and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12
And I SAW THE DEAD (unbelievers), SMALL
AND GREAT, STAND BEFORE GOD; and the books were opened: and another
book was opened, which is THE
BOOK OF LIFE: and the dead were
judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to
their works. 13 And
the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up
the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to
their works. 14 And
death and hell (Heb., Sheol =
Greek, Hades) were cast into the lake of
fire.
THIS
IS THE SECOND DEATH.
15 And
WHOSOEVER WAS NOT FOUND WRITTEN IN THE
BOOK OF LIFE WAS CAST INTO THE
LAKE
OF
FIRE
." (Rev. 20:10-15)
All the unsaved
will bow their knees and acknowledge Jesus as Lord in that day of the Great
White Throne Judgment. Because Jesus Christ humbled Himself and submitted
Himself "even
the death of the cross
God
also hath highly exalted Him (Jesus), and given Him a name which is above
every name:
"That At THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, OF
THINGS IN HEAVEN (the
fallen angels), AND THINGS
IN EARTH (mankind), And
Things UNDER THE EARTH (those in "Sheol"
(Hebrew), or "hell" (Greek) awaiting judgment);
"And
That EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY
OF GOD THE FATHER" (Phil.2:8-11).
With
the conclusion of the Battle of Armageddon, Christ will
"appear" (v2
below) to those who had "pierced"
Him (Zech12:10), and soon then establish His Kingdom on earth. He will rule and reign
with and through the agency of believing
Israel
on earth. All
the Messianic Kingdom believers, including those of
Israel
, must receive Jesus Christ as Savior to be purified, cleansed of their sin.
"Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me:
and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple,
even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he
shall come, saith the LORD of hosts. 2
But who may abide the
DAY OF HIS COMING? and who shall stand when HE APPEARETH? for he is
like a refiner's fire, and like fullers' soap: 3
And he shall sit as
a refiner and purifier
of silver: and HE SHALL PURIFY the sons of Levi, and purge them as
gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in
righteousness. 4
Then shall the offering of
Judah
and
Jerusalem
be pleasant unto the LORD, as in the days of old, and as in former years. 5
And I will come near
to you to judgment; and I
will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers,
and against false swearers, and against those that oppress
the hireling in his
wages, the widow, and
the fatherless, and that turn aside the stranger from his right, and fear
not me, saith the LORD of hosts. 6
For I am
the LORD, I change not; therefore
ye sons of Jacob (
Israel
) are NOT consumed. (Malachi 3:1-6)
More
than 1,000 years before the Lord's 2nd coming He will have already Raptured
the members of "the
body of Christ." Christ will have already presented
each member of His body to the Father, being clothed in His
righteousness, thus making them "Holy
and Unblameable and Unreproveable In His Sight" (
Col
1:22 below).
"Which
he wrought in Christ,
when he raised him from the dead, and set him
at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21
FAR ABOVE
ALL PRINCIPALITY, AND POWER, AND MIGHT, AND DOMINION, and every name
that is named, not only in this world, but
also IN THAT (world) WHICH IS TO COME: 22
And hath put all things
under his feet (of His body),
and gave him to be THE HEAD over
all things to the church, 23
Which is his BODY, THE
FULNESS OF HIM that filleth all in all. (Eph
1:20-23)
"Giving
thanks unto the Father, which
hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
13 Who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and
hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:
. 21
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your
mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In
the body of his flesh through death, TO
PRESENT YOU HOLY AND UNBLAMEABLE AND UNREPROVEABLE IN HIS SIGHT:
(Col 1:12-13, 21-22)
"GOD
HATH NOT Appointed Us To Wrath, but
to (yet) obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,"
(1 Thes 5:9)
"To
the end he (Christ) may
stablish your hearts UNBLAMEABLE In Holiness Before God, Even Our
Father, AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL HIS
SAINTS (believers). (1 Thes
3:13)
Thus, the
conclusion of the ages will bring in not only "the
new (renewed) heavens" occupied by "the
body of Christ,"
but also "the
new (renewed) earth" in which
Israel
is reconciled to and reigning with Christ for eternity. Thus, at that time
ALL believers of all ages will then have been gathered unto Christ. Thus,
Christ will reign both in
heaven and on
earth forever and ever.
The "
River
of
Life
" and the "Tree of
Life" of Revelation 22 which were prefigured in the
beginning of Genesis, have their full measure in the
Holy
City
the New Jerusalem at the consummation of the ages in the eternal
kingdom on earth, as recorded in The Book of Revelations.
"he
shewed me A PURE RIVER OF WATER OF LIFE,
clear as crystal, proceeding out of the
throne of God and of the Lamb. 2
In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of
the river, was there the
tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded
her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were
for the healing of the nations.
3
And there shall be
no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and HIS
SERVANTS SHALL SERVE HIM: 4
And THEY SHALL SEE HIS
FACE; and his name shall
be in their foreheads. 5
And there shall be NO
NIGHT THERE; AND THEY NEED NO CANDLE, neither
light of the sun; for THE LORD GOD GIVETH THEM LIGHT: and THEY
SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER."
(Rev 22:1-5, cf. 20:6)
The
enthroned "twelve Apostles"
of
Israel
and the martyrs of the Tribulation come to reign in the Millennium and
eternal kingdoms, while all
Israel
serves God on the New Earth.)
"THE
FULLNESS OF TIMES" will fulfill that which began "in
the beginning" when God first "created
the heaven and the earth" (Gen 1:1).
"That
In The Dispensation of The Fulness Of
Times He Might Gather
Together In One All Things In Christ, both which
are in Heaven, and which are on Earth; even
In Him" (Ephesians
1:10)
"Then
Cometh THE
END, when
he (Christ) shall
have (past tense) delivered
up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he
shall have put down all (rebellious earthly) rule and all authority and power. 25
For he (Christ) must reign, till
he hath put all enemies (in heaven and on the earth) under
his feet.
26
The
LAST ENEMY THAT
SHALL BE DESTROYED IS DEATH.
27
For
he hath put all things under his feet.
But when he saith all things are put
under him,
it is manifest that he is excepted, which did put all things under him. 28
And when all things
shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son
(Jesus Christ) also himself
be subject unto him (the Father) that put all things under him,
THAT GOD MAY BE ALL IN ALL. (1
Cor 15:24-28)
"For
it pleased the
Father that IN
HIM (Christ) SHOULD ALL FULNESS DWELL; 20
And, having made peace
through the blood of his cross, by him to
reconcile all things unto himself; by him (Christ), I say,
whether they be THINGS IN EARTH, OR THINGS
IN HEAVEN. (Colossians 1:19-20)
"Having
made known unto us THE MYSTERY OF
HIS WILL, according to his good
pleasure which HE HATH PURPOSED
IN HIMSELF: 10
That IN THE DISPENSATION of THE
FULNESS OF TIMES HE MIGHT GATHER
TOGETHER IN ONE (the universe wide "kingdom of God") ALL THINGS IN CHRIST, BOTH
WHICH ARE IN HEAVEN, And
Which Are ON EARTH; even
in him: (Ephesians 1:9-10)
"IN
THE BEGINNING God created THE
HEAVEN and THE EARTH."
(Genesis 1:1)
"And
I saw a NEW (Gk.
kainos, renewed, refreshed) HEAVEN AND
A NEW (Gk. kainos, new, refreshed)
EARTH: FOR THE FIRST HEAVEN
and THE FIRST EARTH WERE PASSED AWAY; and there was No More Sea."
(Revelation 21:1).
"No
more sea" (Rev 21:1)?
I believe Scripture explains this, referring to the vast oceans on Planet
Earth. At the time of the Great Flood the mountains were raised up and
the valleys lowered to form the ocean beds that contained the flood waters.
When the Earth is restored at the time of the 2nd Coming this will be
reversed. The Book of Revelation talks about the islands
and mountains disappearing
(Rev.
16:20).
I think the water from the oceans will be taken back up into the atmosphere
to restore the water vapor canopy that protected Earth from harmful rays in
the days before the flood (Genesis
1:6-8)
and permitted the long life spans recorded in the Book of Genesis.
This canopy formed the flood when it fell to earth as rain (Genesis
7:11).
In
the end
"The
Kingdoms Of This World Are Become The Kingdoms Of Our Lord, And Of
His Christ; and He Shall Reign FOR EVER AND EVER.
(Rev. 11:15b)
Israel
will co-rule with Christ on earth, while the rewards of a place of service
in the heavenly government are given to the members of "the
church, which is His body" who "suffered
(endured) in life with Him" (2Tim 2:12). These faithful
Rapture believers will be rewarded according to "how
they built upon the foundation" of Christ as their new
all-sufficient life supply they will "reign
with Him" in heaven. These are those who "learned
Christ" (Eph 4:20), they've
learned to endure this life by trusting Him in the face of suffering. I
believe the reward for them
includes positions and assignments in the Lord's heavenly
government where they shall co-rule with Christ in the heavens,
judging the non-believers and fallen angels during the Tribulation.
"Do
ye not know that the saints shall judge
the world? and if the world
shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest
matters? 3 Know
Ye Not That We Shall Judge Angels? how much more things that
pertain to this life? (1 Corinthians 6:2-3
(KJV)
Christ
authority and blessing will then be fully manifested.
- The
faithful of
Israel
reigning on earth. "Blessed
and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the
second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of
Christ, and shall reign with him a
thousand years. Revelation
(20:6, cf., Rev 5:10).
- Seated
in the heavenly realm, the
faithful of the body of Christ will reign in the
heavens. "If
we suffer, We Shall Also Reign With Him...
(2
Timothy 2:12).
"that ye may know
. 19...the
exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power, 20
Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the
dead, and set him at his own
right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far
Above All Principality, And Power, And Might, And Dominion, And Every Name
That Is Named, Not Only In This World, But Also In That Which Is To Come:
22
And hath
put All Things
Under His Feet (of His body),
and gave him to
be the head over all things
to 'The Church, 23
Which Is His Body,' The Fulness Of Him That Filleth All
In All. (Ephesians 1:18-23
(KJV)
Being
"His
body"
we are His feet that carry Him wherever we go. We
are to bear His life, power, and authority for eternity in the heavenly
realm;
"Far
Above All Principality, and Power, And Might, and Dominion, and every name
that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come."
<END SERIES>
